Rotating amusement device



Ap 5, 1938. L. u. EYERLY 2,113,131

ROTATING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1/5/\/Tc/ L. 11. EYEQLY April 5, 1938. u EYERLY 2,113,131

ROTATING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feb 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMENTUL.U. E'YER LY )4 7' TERA/E V April 5, 1938. 1.. u. EYERLY ROTATINGAMUSEMENT DEVIUE Filed Feb. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 5,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to amusement devices, and particularlyto the type commonly referred to as merry-go-round, in which the carsare rotatable about a vertical axis.

The main object of this invention is the provision of an improved formof rotating amusement device in which the individual cars are mounted onrocker arms by means of which the cars can be tilted as they revolveabout in their orbits and at the same time each car is revolvable on anaxis which is normal to its supporting arm which is radial from thecenter of rotation.

The second object of this device is to make it possible to hold the armsin a given vertical position while the cars are being revolved abouttheir vertical axis for the purpose oi facilitating the loading andunloading thereof.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from thespecification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan of the device.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through a car showing the position of theoccupant.

Fig. 8 is a plan of the car.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a base l0 which issecured to a suitable foundation H, preferably of concrete. From thebase l0 extends upwardly the vertical shaft I2 which is revolvable inthe upright bearing |3,

whose upper end is cylindrical and forms a shaft.

for the sleeve H from which radiate the lugs I5 which carry thetransverse pin l6.

To each pin I6 is hingedly attached a radial car arm l1. Each car arm I1is provided with a pivot pin l8 which is normal to the arm l1 and hasmounted thereon the sleeve |9 of the car 20 which contains a seat 2| andan occupant 22. The car 20 is free to rotate about the axis of the pivotpin l8.

To the uper end of the shaft I2 is secured a crank arm 23 to whose outerend is attached a wrist plate 24 from which radiate the connecting arms25 whose outer ends are connected to the 5 arms H by means of the pins28. The purpose of this construction is to cause the cars 2. to rock invertical arcs when the shaft I2 is held stationary and the sleeve I4 isrotated, or when the sleeve I4 is held stationary and the shaft I2isrotated. 5 The lower end 21 of the shaft l2 journals in the framecasting 28 which is provided with a conical recess 29 to receive thecone 30 of the slidable clutch element 3| which is splined on the shaftl2. The shaft I2 is provided with a collar 32 10 above the spline 33.About the collar 32 and free to rotate on the shaft I2 is a clutch gear34 whose teeth 35 can be brought into mesh with the teeth 36 of theelement 3| by means of the forked bell crank lever 31. The forked bellcrank lever 31 15 is actuated by a connecting rod 38 from the hand lever39 whose position may be selectively fixed by means of the quadrants 40.

Mounted in parallelism with the shaft I2 is an intermediate shaft 4|whose lower end 42 journals in the frame casting 28 in which is formed aconical recess 43 which is coaxial with the shaft 4|. Splined on theshaft 4| is a slidable clutch jaw 44 on whose lower end is formed a cone45 which is adapted to engage the recess 43 when the jaw 44 is moveddownwardly by means of .the forked bell crank lever 46 which is operatedby the connecting rod 41 through the hand lever 48. This can be held ina desired position by means of a quadrant 49. 3o

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 4| above the clutch jaw 44 is a clutchpart 50 which is part of the bevel gear 5| which is integral with thepinion 52 which meshes with the idler pinion 53 which in turn mesheswith the clutch gear 34. Meshing 35 with the gear 5| is a bevel pinion54 on the shaft 55 of the motor 55 whose operation is controlled bymeans of a switch 51 and rheostat 58.

There is also shown a loading platform 59 by means of which the occupantcan enter or leave 40 the car 20 when it is in substantially itslowermost position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the upper end of the shaft4| is secured a pinion 60 which meshes with the gear GI which is securedto or integral with the sleeve I4. 5

'The operation of the device isas follows:

*Assuming'that the device is stopped and it is desired to load apassenger, the operator by manipulating the levers 39 and 40 causes theentire device to rotate about the vertical shaft 50 I2 until'thelowermost car 20 is brought around to the loading platform 59. The shaftI2 is then held in a fixed position by manipulating the hand lever 39causing the cone 30 to engage the recess 29. Any further operation ofthe motor 56 will 55 cause the arms I! to rotate about the verticalshaft l2 and due to the fact that the crank arm 23 is now motionlesseach car 2| will descend to the loading platform I! as it approachessame.

Obviously, it will be desirable to stop the motor 56 during theoperation of loading or unloading each car 20. g

After the cars are loaded, the shaft l2 may be rotated or heldstationary or the cars may be made to revolve about in their orbits bypermitting the pinion to drive the gear ii which is attached to thesleeve ll.

It will be noted that due to the difference in g the size of the pinioni2 and the gear 34, the shafts l2 and ll rotate at different speeds.

It can be seen from the foregoing that a wide range of movements isobtainable. for the cars 2. since they may either rock vertically orrotate in a circular orbit or do both of these acts at the same time,and in addition thereto may rotate upon their vertical axes.

I claim: I

1. A rotating amusement device of the class described, having aplurality of radial arms revoivable on a vertical axis, each of saidarms having a. passenger car mounted on the outer end thereof, each ofsaid arms being hingedly mounted, a crank arm associated with saidrevolvabie arms near their axis of rotation, connecting rods from saidcrank arm to the respective arms whereby said arms may be rocked andmeans for revolving said arms on a vertical axiswhile said cars arecaused to 'rotate on axes which are normal to their respective arms invertical planes.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base havingan upright shaft thereon,

a plurality of radial arms revolvably mounted on said shaft, each ofsaid arms being hinged at its inner end to permit same to rockvertically, a crank at the upper end of said shaft, connecting rodsextending from said crank to each of said arms, means for rotating saidarms on their vertical axis and means for rocking said arms verticallyin conjunction with or independently of the rotating movements thereof.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base, anupright shaft mounted on said base, a plurality of radial armsrevolvably mounted about said shaft and hinged on their inner endsthereof to permit a vertical rocking movement by each of said arms,means for rocking said arms and rotating same about their vertical axis,a passenger car mounted on .each of said arms having means forpermitting same to rotate freely on an axis which is normal to itsrespective arm in a vertical plane. Y

4. In a-device of the class described, the combination of a base, anupriflht shaft supported by said base having means for holding sameagainst rotation and having means for causing same to rotate, said shafthaving a crank arm at the upper end thereof, a plurality of radial armshaving their inner ends hingedly mounted around said shaft, each of saidarms having a passenger car on the outer end thereof and each of saidarms having a connecting rod joining its inter--

